Please scroll down for the list of important dates.

M-STEP summative tests for grads 3-8 include:

English Language Arts (ELA):
English language arts (ELA) is assessed in grades 3–8. It covers four claims: reading, writing, listening, and research. The assessments are online computer adaptive tests.

Mathematics:
Mathematics is assessed in grades 3–8. It covers four claims: concepts and procedures, problem solving, communicating reasoning, and modeling and data analysis.

Science:
For Spring 2018, the new Michigan science standards are being assessed in a statewide field test in grades 5, and 8, with a fixed-form online assessment.  

Social Studies:
Social studies is assessed in grades 5 and 8 with a fixed-form online assessment.

Beginning the week of April 9th the following grades will be testing:

Tuesday, April 10th-       5th & 8th Grade (ELA)
Wednesday, April 11th- 5th & 8th Grade (ELA)
Thursday, April 12th-     5th & 8th Grade (Math)
Friday, April 13th-           5th & 8th Grade (Math)
Monday, April 16th-       5th & 8th Grade (Science)
Tuesday, April 17th-       5th & 8th Grade (Social Studies)

How can I best help my child succeed?
• Try not to schedule any doctor appointments for them on the dates of testing.
• Ensure that they eat breakfast on the days they are testing.
• Try and get them to bed early the night before.
• Have them prepare by taking practice tests ahead of time.

How do we prepare?
The computer assessments have online practice tests that can be taken to prepare for the assessments.
1. Go to https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ (must be taken in Google Chrome).
2. Click on M-STEP Online Tools Training.
3. Click on Sample Item Sets.
4. Click on the grade level.
5. Click on the subject.
6. Sign in with the username and password supplied on the screen.
7. Once signed in, click continue and choose the practice test you want to take.

Mark your calendars for FMCA’s 8th Annual Art and Music Showcase on Saturday, May 5th. 
The proceeds from this event not only help to supplement the school’s art and music programs,
but fund art/musical guests and field trips as well. 

We are looking for adult artists to donate one art piece for the silent auction
portion of the art show.  Please email Mr. Michael, FCMA's Visual Art Teacher at michaelchabot@choiceschools.com if you or someone you know is interested. 

The staff and students thank you for your continued support!    

Hello FCMA Community we need your help!

Each year FCMA’s 8th grade middle school students spend one week completing 30-40 hours of unpaid student internships at businesses in the community (see attached information and news article). This year, we have several responsible, mature students that need your assistance with securing an internship. Internship week is April 23rd - 27th, 2018. If you can help identify an internship, please email meghanvandenplas@choiceschools.com. Thank you so very much!

The goal of this internship is for students to gain knowledge about the business world and become career focused as they begin making college and career path decisions. We are confident that when you meet our 8th grade middle school student, you will find a very mature, helpful, eager, and observant person. 

Our students are open to any internship opportunity, however, some specific areas of interest include: sports and sports medicine, veterinarian, engineering, computers, photography, and a bakery/restaurant.

Internship supervisor tasks:

·        Identify work tasks for intern

·        Allow intern time for daily reflection

·        Act as a mentor for 5 days, approximately 8:00am – 3:00pm (time flexible)

·        Daily signature (student will ask you for this during internship)

·        Complete student evaluation at end of internship

Thank you for any assistance that you can provide.  
Meghan Vandenplas

Check out this video highlighting last year's internship program.

It has been a long winter and we are ready for spring! Looking forward to taking PE classes outside when the weather is nice enough. Please remember to have students ready for the weather and to have sneakers on their PE day (Monday classes include the Middle School, Palm and Sassafras), continue to work on shoe tying at home as well for those that still struggle (please reach out it you need ideas or techniques). Here is a glimpse into what our winter months have been filled with:

Pre-Primary and Early Elementary Physical Education

The youngest students at our school have engaged in many seasonally appropriate stretches and activities. We’ve celebrated and explored Super Week, The Olympics, Day Light Savings, and Springtime to name a few. The students have even learned a game named after our own school! Four Corners! Ask your little one if they remember the rules and if they can teach it to you to play at home.

Lower Elementary Physical Education

I wrote about an inspired change I made to this curriculum a few months ago. Basically, students are no longer chunking skill development for a few weeks at a time, instead, the exposure to different skills jumps around throughout the year. Ultimately, the students should be practicing more skills and activities and retain what they’ve developed for a longer period because they will use it sporadically…if you don’t use it, you lose it. So you may have heard your students mention using jump ropes in class one week, then soccer balls the next, then scooters, then volleyballs, then practicing footwork after that!

Upper Elementary Physical Education

Basketball and Hockey seasons filled most of our recent time together. What has been most impressive with all of the UE classes is not necessarily the sport specific skill development, but the overall improvement in athleticism and sportsmanship among individuals. My favorite part is at the end of our most recent Hockey season when the students acknowledge one another for that very thing.

Upper Elementary Health

Health classes have been playing many games and then trying to figure out the meaning behind them during our Social and Emotional Health as well as during our Addiction units. Communication, empathy and understanding being some of the main points that were driven home to help foster positive relationships. Knowledge and Compassion were stressed when talking about addictive substances or behaviors. The Fifth graders received a separate Communicable Diseases Lesson. In the end, the hope of all of these units is that the students have the information necessary to make a healthy decision for themselves when they are faced with a difficult situation.

Middle School Physical Education

The oldest students in the school have completed Football and Volleyball seasons before heading off to Washington DC. By the end of each season, the groups are basically setting up and running the games themselves! Throughout the year, cooperation is encouraged, but I never see it present so well as I do during Volleyball season when teammates can be heard guiding and reminding each other of how to properly hit or serve the ball. You can also catch cheerful cross-court chatter as teams debate the game rules, score, boundaries, rotation, etc.

Katie Sime

Physical Education Teacher
Health Teacher

"Under the heading 'Care of Environment' we would include... many outdoor tasks such as digging, planting, weeding, watering, sweeping up leaves , and so forth."
—E. M. Standing, Maria Montessori, Her Life and Work

Practical Life in the Garden

"Planting, caring for, and harvesting a garden allow children to use much of what [students] have already learned, whether it's science, math, or writing."